What happened
A cargo operation departing from Tbilisi Airport at 10:39 local time was en route to Yerevan when the aircraft struck terrain. The flight, carrying a payload of 2,394 kilograms, was operated by a crew of five. After reaching an assigned altitude of 3,000 meters approximately 17 minutes into the flight, the crew proceeded south following visual flight rules (VFR).
At 11:08 local time, the aircraft passed the Idzhevan VOR. Shortly thereafter, air traffic control authorized a descent to 1,800 meters. During this period, between 11:16 and 11:19, the crew made two separate reports regarding worsening weather characterized by low cloud cover. In response to these conditions, the crew requested permission to turn back toward Tbilisi while maintaining an altitude of 3,000 meters under VFR.
While the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of 2,265 meters, the left wing made contact with the western slope of Mt Getantag. Following the impact, the plane traveled approximately 130 meters before catching fire and crashing. The accident resulted in five fatalities and one serious injury. Although the flight engineer survived the initial impact, he later succumbed to his injuries.
Findings
The investigation determined that the crash was a controlled flight into terrain. This occurred because the crew failed to adhere to established navigation regulations, operating under VFR in conditions of limited visibility and at an altitude below the required minimums.